The early flip to Christmas music has happened twice in Cleveland.As expected, CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 "Soft Rock 102.1" and Salem CCM WFHM/95.5 "The Fish" have become the next Northeast Ohio stations - and the first Cleveland market stations - to flip to all Christmas music.The moves comes after Clear Channel Canton market AC WHOF/101.7 "My 101.7" and Youngstown market classic hits WBBG/106.1 "Big 106.1" flipped to holiday music in the past week.WDOK had been promoting a Christmas music flip … [Read more...]
Friday Cleanup
Posted on November 21, 2008 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 3:15 PM 11/21/08: We added a new item below, about the debut of a new Toledo weekend radio show produced by one of our regular readers. Scroll down for the update...-------Cleaning up some items as we intend to head out the door for the weekend...WNEO'S DIGITAL: OMW hears from Western Reserve PBS that the station is still technically in testing mode today with its new digital signal for Youngstown market WNEO/45 Alliance, which lit up for the first time on Thursday evening.For now, WNEO … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: WKDD Turns To Billy Bush For Nights
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
With Clear Channel Akron/Canton hot AC WKDD/98.1's former local evening voice now being heard alongside morning host Matt Patrick, the station has turned to a big syndicated name to take the vacated evening slot.The 7-11 PM weeknight slot once occupied by Krissy Taylor's voicetracked shift will be occupied starting Monday by Westwood One's "Billy Bush Show". Bush hosts TV's "Access Hollywood", and does his syndicated radio show from the TV show's studio.Quoting 'KDD:Billy is able to have the … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: WKNR, OSU Re-Up Through 2012
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
As Buckeye Nation concentrates on this weekend's big football game with the Michigan Wolverines, the Ohio State Radio Network's Cleveland affiliate is crowing about the future.Good Karma sports WKNR/850 "ESPN 850 WKNR" has announced a renewal of the station's contract to carry Buckeyes football and basketball in the Cleveland market. The new deal lasts through the year 2012.Quoting a WKNR release:"Given the enthusiasm that exists in Cleveland and the surrounding area for Ohio State football and … [Read more...]
Another Radio Move – Sort Of
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
When it wasn't even looking, the Toledo market got another country music station recently - sort of.It's a station that's been there, and been in the format, for some time.But the recent FCC approval of a new city of license for Tiffin's WCKY-FM/103.7 "103-7 CKY" has apparently emboldened the Clear Channel station to start basically shouting "Toledo!!!" on the air.Late last month, the FCC approved a new construction permit reallocating 103.7 from Tiffin to Pemberville. We've never heard of … [Read more...]
I Love Ya, Cleveland (Magazine)
Posted on November 19, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Since we don't usually buy Cleveland Magazine, we didn't know that a prominent local sports media personality is featured this month until we saw Bruce Drennan on the magazine's cover at a local newsstand.Sure enough, the very interesting tale of the sportscaster's recent fall - and rise - is featured in a story titled "The Reconstruction of Bruce Drennan", which can be read online here.The magazine also offers a podcast featuring the Drennan story.The basics of the story are well known to OMW … [Read more...]
Cincinnati Way
Posted on November 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Our primary focus here at OMW is Northeast Ohio, covering the radio and TV stations (and other media) of the Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown areas.We'll occasionally run items from other parts of Ohio, as far afield as Toledo, Lima and Cincinnati, but we don't really have all that many sources in other parts of the state.That's one reason we wholeheartedly welcome a new media blog that focuses on Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio and nearby areas.Check it out at Tri-State Media … [Read more...]
New Ohio Radio Ratings?
Posted on November 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
The folks at Arbitron will get some competition for radio ratings starting next year - and it will affect one Ohio market.The New York Times reports that Nielsen, better known for its TV ratings, will provide radio audience measurement in 50 "small and midsize markets" starting in the third quarter of 2009, in a deal with radio group owner Cumulus, which has been seeking an Arbitron alternative for some time.The Times also reports that in 17 of those markets, Clear Channel's radio stations will … [Read more...]
Out Of The Chute
Posted on November 17, 2008 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 11/17/08 9:50 PM: Two alert readers with the ability to pick up Youngstown market stations tell us that Clear Channel classic hits WBBG/106.1 Niles "Big 106.1" flipped to holiday tunes late last week. We've confirmed the switch by going to the station's website, and listening online.The station is now positioning for the season as "Youngstown-Warren's Christmas Music Channel"...-----------...for a Monday, with some newsy and some random items. Or maybe the title should be "Down The … [Read more...]
Friday Grab Bag
Posted on November 14, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Rounding out our week...NO 58: With the digital side of Western Reserve PBS' WNEO/45 Alliance off the air this week in preparation for the station's early digital switchover, one of our readers noticed that the public TV outlet's Youngstown-based low-power translator is also off the air.OMW has confirmed that the translator, known legally as W58AM and serving low-lying areas of the Mahoning Valley that may be shadowed from WNEO, is indeed off the air due to transmitter problems...and has been … [Read more...]
